The Latin Beat: Chavez
We begin with "Fidelito" by mentioning the plight of Luis Posada Carriles, a CIA-trained Cuban seeking political asylum in the United States. Mr. Posada is 77 and considered a hero by the Cuban exiles for his efforts to topple Castro in the Bay of Pigs, an assassination attempt in Panama and the clincher--bringing down a Cuban civilian airliner that killed 73 people as well as bombings in Cuban tourist hotels. Rep. William D. Delahunt(D-Mass.), wrote a letter to the leaders of the House International Relations Committee:
"Given the enmity between the US and Cuban governments, it is possible that US officials have turned a blind eye to Posada's entrance into our country
-- or even worse, facilitated it. If he is allowed to remain here--it would obliterate America's credibility on the war on terrorism, because it would suggest that we share the views of those who support al Qaeda and Iraqi insurgents that 'one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.'"
Speaking of terrorists, '"One Darned thing after another": That is how former Secretary of State Dean Acheson defined foreign policy. The latest "darned thing" for the United States is Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez,' reports Peter Brookes. A main concern for the US is the chance that a conventional war between Venezuela and Colombia, our main regional ally, could break out especially since Chavez has been buying Russian AK-47's, MIG-29 fighters, helicopter gunships and ammunition. The FARC ( Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) has been trying to overthrow the Colombian government and Chavez is their 'good ol boy.' Hugo is also trying to sink his teeth into Peru by offering funds to support a rebellion against President Alejandro Toledo this past December. Mr. Brookes does a great job of explaining why Americans need to keep an eye on this Latin tick.
And if Chavez's purchases of conventional weaponry isn't enough to get your neck out of joint then how about the WMDs he is reportedly buying from our so called friends in Spain.
"President Chavez may be a thuggish autocrat, but he isn't stupid enough to use biological or chemical weapons against American civilians, at least directly." Gee, I feel better, don't you?
But wait, there is more. According to Miguel Angel Moratinos, the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Spain "has no problem in providing Colombia with material such as the aircraft and patrol boats sold to Venezuela."
And a bit more from the Spanish Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Georgina Pol Borras regarding the 30,374 EUROS worth of chemical and biological exports to Venezuela, she replies, "It is [CS chlorobenzylidene malonitrile) gas used to produce tear devices used to control riots." Now tell us, why would Venezuela need so much GAS to control riots if everyone is so damn happy to have President Chavez manning the helm?
It is no wonder Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said during her confirmation hearings, "I think we have to view, at this point, the government of Venezuela as a negative force in the region."
And this is why Americans need to follow the situation in Venezuela and neighboring Latin American countries: According to Ecuador's former president Abdala Bucaram after eight years of exile in Panama, has returned to lead a "revolution of the poor" just like the one led by Chavez. " I come to Ecuador to copy Chavez's style with a great Bolivarian revolution." Bucaram is planning to emulate Chavez's movement which according to both knuckleheads is loosely based on Simon Bolivar's writings. If anyone knows anything about Simon Bolivar, they would know that he is turning over in his grave at the thought that these crackhead despots are using his name in vain. Simon Bolivar, the Liberator of seven Latin American nations, would never have stood by either of them in the battlefield or in the House of Congress.
